RAF Aldergrove
Encyclopedia
RAF Aldergrove was a Royal Air Force
station situated 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Belfast
. It adjoined Belfast International Airport
, sometimes referred to simply as Aldergrove
which is the name of the surrounding area. The station shared the Aldergrove runways but had its own separate facilities and helipad.
during the Second World War. From the base, long-range reconnaissance aircraft were able to patrol the Eastern Atlantic for U-Boat
s. Some of these patrols ranged as far out as the distant islet of Rockall
.
Aldergrove was designated as a dispersal airfield for the RAF's V bomber
force in the 1950s and was included in a reduced list of 26 airfields in 1962. In 1968 a maintenance unit (No.23 MU) for the F-4 Phantom
in RAF service was established at Aldergrove, with 116 aircraft passing through on their way to front line service. Aldergrove was also the main servicing and reconditioning station for Canberra
aircraft from their introduction in 1951. In 1976, the station had a staff of 2,500 RAF personnel and 1,500 civilians.
No. 72 Squadron
operated Wessex
helicopters from Aldergrove from 1969 until its disbandment in 2002.
No. 230 Squadron was re-deployed from Germany to RAF Aldergrove in 1992, where it operated Puma
HC1 helicopters until its relocation to RAF Benson in 2009.
The Army Air Corps also operated Westland Lynx
and Aérospatiale Gazelle
helicopters as well as de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
aircraft in its joint operations with the RAF's Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre (Northern Ireland); the Beaver was replaced by the Britten-Norman Islander
late in 1988.
No. 18 Squadron also operated detachments of Boeing Chinook (UK variants) during the late 80s in support of the British Army in Northern Ireland.
Aldergrove is now home to the Joint Helicopter Force Northern Ireland (JHF(NI), which provides Gazelle and Islander aircraft in support of the Police Service of Northern Ireland
and military units for Operation Helvetic, and for other operations abroad. Its current role is to support this flying.
Due to the closure of RAF Machrihanish
, the base is now used annually for Air Training Corps
cadets as a training camp, where cadets from Scotland and Northern Ireland Region gather for a week of fieldcraft
, shooting, first aid and other activities.
Aldergrove officially ceased to be an RAF Station on 20 September 2009 when, after the annual Battle of Britain
parade, the RAF ensign was lowered for the last time and the Joint Helicopter Command
flag was hoisted in its place.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
station situated 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. It adjoined Belfast International Airport
Belfast International Airport
Belfast International Airport is a major airport located northwest of Belfast in Northern Ireland. It was formerly known and is still referred to as Aldergrove Airport, after the village of the same name lying immediately to the west of the airport. Belfast International shares its runways with...
, sometimes referred to simply as Aldergrove
Aldergrove
Aldergrove is the name of multiple places:* Aldergrove, British Columbia* Aldergrove, Northern Ireland, a village close to the site of:**RAF Aldergrove**Belfast International Airport* Aldergrove, Edmonton, a neighbourhood....
which is the name of the surrounding area. The station shared the Aldergrove runways but had its own separate facilities and helipad.
History
RAF Aldergrove first opened in 1918 but was not designated as an operational RAF station until 1925. Aldergrove’s location made it an important station of RAF Coastal Command in the Battle of the AtlanticSecond Battle of the Atlantic
The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest continuous military campaign in World War II, running from 1939 to the defeat of Germany in 1945. At its core was the Allied naval blockade of Germany, announced the day after the declaration of war, and Germany's subsequent counter-blockade. It was at its...
during the Second World War. From the base, long-range reconnaissance aircraft were able to patrol the Eastern Atlantic for U-Boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
s. Some of these patrols ranged as far out as the distant islet of Rockall
Rockall
Rockall is an extremely small, uninhabited, remote rocky islet in the North Atlantic Ocean. It gives its name to one of the sea areas named in the shipping forecast provided by the British Meteorological Office....
.
Aldergrove was designated as a dispersal airfield for the RAF's V bomber
V bomber
The term V bomber was used for the Royal Air Force aircraft during the 1950s and 1960s that comprised the United Kingdom's strategic nuclear strike force known officially as the V-force or Bomber Command Main Force...
force in the 1950s and was included in a reduced list of 26 airfields in 1962. In 1968 a maintenance unit (No.23 MU) for the F-4 Phantom
F-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
in RAF service was established at Aldergrove, with 116 aircraft passing through on their way to front line service. Aldergrove was also the main servicing and reconditioning station for Canberra
English Electric Canberra
The English Electric Canberra is a first-generation jet-powered light bomber manufactured in large numbers through the 1950s. The Canberra could fly at a higher altitude than any other bomber through the 1950s and set a world altitude record of 70,310 ft in 1957...
aircraft from their introduction in 1951. In 1976, the station had a staff of 2,500 RAF personnel and 1,500 civilians.
No. 72 Squadron
No. 72 Squadron RAF
No. 72 Squadron Royal Air Force started its service life supporting the army during World War I on operations in Middle East and afterwards was quickly disbanded. In its second incarnation the squadron was a real fighter unit, transitioning from Gloster Gladiator biplanes to Gloster Javelin...
operated Wessex
Westland Wessex
The Westland Wessex is a British turbine-powered version of the Sikorsky S-58 "Choctaw", developed under license by Westland Aircraft , initially for the Royal Navy, and later for the Royal Air Force...
helicopters from Aldergrove from 1969 until its disbandment in 2002.
No. 230 Squadron was re-deployed from Germany to RAF Aldergrove in 1992, where it operated Puma
Aérospatiale Puma
The Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma is a four-bladed, twin-engined medium transport/utility helicopter. The Puma was originally manufactured by Sud Aviation of France.-Development:...
HC1 helicopters until its relocation to RAF Benson in 2009.
The Army Air Corps also operated Westland Lynx
Westland Lynx
The Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants...
and Aérospatiale Gazelle
Aérospatiale Gazelle
The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat light helicopter, powered by a single turbine engine. It was designed and manufactured in France by Sud Aviation . It was also manufactured under licence by Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom , by SOKO in Yugoslavia and ABHCO in Egypt...
helicopters as well as de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
The de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver is a single-engined, high-wing, propeller-driven, STOL aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada, primarily known as a bush plane. It is used for cargo and passenger hauling, aerial application , and has been widely adopted by armed forces as a utility aircraft...
aircraft in its joint operations with the RAF's Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre (Northern Ireland); the Beaver was replaced by the Britten-Norman Islander
Britten-Norman Islander
The Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander is a 1960s British light utility aircraft, regional airliner and cargo aircraft designed and originally manufactured by Britten-Norman of the United Kingdom. The Islander is one of the best-selling commercial aircraft types produced in Europe. Although designed in...
late in 1988.
Aldergrove is now home to the Joint Helicopter Force Northern Ireland (JHF(NI), which provides Gazelle and Islander aircraft in support of the Police Service of Northern Ireland
Police Service of Northern Ireland
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is the police force that serves Northern Ireland. It is the successor to the Royal Ulster Constabulary which, in turn, was the successor to the Royal Irish Constabulary in Northern Ireland....
and military units for Operation Helvetic, and for other operations abroad. Its current role is to support this flying.
Due to the closure of RAF Machrihanish
RAF Machrihanish
RAF Machrihanish is a former Royal Air Force station located west of Campbeltown at the tip of Kintyre. It is now known as MoD Machrihanish and also incorporates Campbeltown Airport which has commercial flights to Glasgow, operated by Loganair....
, the base is now used annually for Air Training Corps
Air Training Corps
The Air Training Corps , commonly known as the Air Cadets, is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air...
cadets as a training camp, where cadets from Scotland and Northern Ireland Region gather for a week of fieldcraft
Fieldcraft
Fieldcraft is a term used especially in American, Canadian and British military circles to describe the basic military skills required to operate stealthily and the methods used to do so, which can differ during day or night and due to weather or terrain...
, shooting, first aid and other activities.
Aldergrove officially ceased to be an RAF Station on 20 September 2009 when, after the annual Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
parade, the RAF ensign was lowered for the last time and the Joint Helicopter Command
Joint Helicopter Command
Joint Helicopter Command is a tri-service organisation uniting military helicopters of the British Armed Forces for command and coordination purposes...
flag was hoisted in its place.
Units based at Aldergrove
- 5 Regiment Army Air Corps
- No. 651 Squadron AAC - Britten-Norman DefenderBritten-Norman Defender|-External links:*...
. This squadron officially moved to RAF Aldergrove on 4 August 2008 from RAF OdihamRAF OdihamRAF Odiham is a Royal Air Force station situated a little to the south of the historic small village of Odiham in Hampshire, England. It is the home of the Royal Air Force's heavy lift helicopter, the Chinook HC2, HC2A and HC3...
and operated three Defender AL1s, serial numbers ZG995, ZG996 and ZG998, two Defender AL2s (ZG997 and ZH001), and a Defender T3 training variant (ZH004). Two more Defender AL2s (serial numbers ZH002 and ZH003) were scheduled to be delivered to this unit. - No. 665 Squadron AAC - Gazelle AH.1s
- No. 1 Flight AAC - Britten-Norman IslanderBritten-Norman IslanderThe Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander is a 1960s British light utility aircraft, regional airliner and cargo aircraft designed and originally manufactured by Britten-Norman of the United Kingdom. The Islander is one of the best-selling commercial aircraft types produced in Europe. Although designed in...
. Six Islander AL1s, serial numbers ZG844 to ZG848 and ZG993. A seventh Islander AL1 (serial number ZG994) was written-off a number years ago. - PSNI Air Support Unit - Eurocopter EC 135Eurocopter EC 135The Eurocopter EC135 is a twin-engine civil helicopter produced by Eurocopter, widely used amongst police and ambulance services and for executive transport. It is capable of flight under instrument flight rules .-Development:...
T2 G-PNSI - PSNI Air Support Unit - Eurocopter EC 145 G-PSNO
- No. 651 Squadron AAC - Britten-Norman Defender
Notable military aircraft which have visited Aldergrove
- USAF aircraft operating in support of U.S. Presidential visits to Northern Ireland.
- Air Force OneAir Force OneAir Force One is the official air traffic control call sign of any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. In common parlance the term refers to those Air Force aircraft whose primary mission is to transport the president; however, any U.S. Air Force aircraft...
- C-5C-5 GalaxyThe Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a large military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. It provides the United States Air Force with a heavy intercontinental-range strategic airlift capability, one that can carry outsize and oversize cargos, including all air-certifiable cargo. The Galaxy has many...
s carrying Marine OneMarine OneMarine One is the call sign of any United States Marine Corps aircraft carrying the President of the United States. It usually denotes a helicopter operated by the HMX-1 "Nighthawks" squadron, either the large VH-3D Sea King or the newer, smaller VH-60N "WhiteHawk", both due to be replaced by the...
helicopters - C-17 GlobemastersC-17 Globemaster IIIThe Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas, the C-17 is used for rapid strategic airlift of troops and cargo to main operating bases or forward operating bases throughout...
- C-32s
- Air Force One
- RAF Vickers VC10Vickers VC10The Vickers VC10 is a long-range British airliner designed and built by Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd, and first flown in 1962. The airliner was designed to operate on long-distance routes with a high subsonic speed and also be capable of hot and high operations from African airports...
s and Lockheed TristarsLockheed L-1011The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, commonly referred to as the L-1011 or TriStar, is a medium-to-long range, widebody passenger trijet airliner. It was the third widebody airliner to enter commercial operations, following the Boeing 747 and the McDonnell Douglas DC-10. Between 1968 and 1984, Lockheed...
in support of the RAF and Army presence. - Various NATO aircraft for squadron celebration, etc.